Fiscal Contingencies due to Changes in the Method of Calculating the PIS and COFINS Levies in Brazil

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of change in the method of calculating the PIS and COFINS in the disclosure of tax contingencies. The tax contingencies in general, including contingencies related tax contributions, must be evidenced in financial statement notes, in accordance with established accounting criteria for this purpose. In this context, this study analyzes the disclosure level of Brazilian companies reporting in the financial statement notes to the tax contingent assets and liabilities, especially with regard to non-cumulative PIS and COFINS, and what its features. To assess the level of disclosure of contingencies it applied a Probit model in which it tried to identify the determinants of disclosure level. The results suggest that the majority of the firms analyzed, although they have fiscal contingencies related to PIS and COFINS, do not explain the nature of the respective accounting figures in financial statement notes, so they are not being transparent to investors in this respect.